AL East Notes: Jimenez, Machado, Ortiz, Sox, Soriano

Ubaldo Jimenez was introduced today by the Orioles, saying that he is looking forward to putting the "nightmare" of past inconsistency in the rearview mirror. Executive VP Dan Duqutte said that Jimenez was attractive to Baltimore because "he's been a proven, solid, dependable pitcher," and explained that he saw potential for new pitching coach Dave Wallace to help Jimenez maintain his form from the second half of last year. MLB.com's Britt Ghiroli has a full transcript from the presser.

Here's more from the AL East:

Orioles young star Manny Machado is scheduled for a key visit with his doctor in the middle of March which could determine when he'll be ready to suit up, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). If he is cleared to play at that point, the hope is that Machado would be prepared for game action within the first few weeks of the season.

Machado tells ESPN's Jayson Stark that being ready for Opening Day is last on his list of priorities: "That’s at the bottom of my list. It’s not even on my list, to be honest," says Machado. Instead, Machado and the Orioles are focused on making sure he's 100 percent when he takes the field. Says Machado: "When I’m ready, I’m going to be ready. And everybody’s going to know it. And that’s when I’m going to be out there with the team, whether it’s Opening Day or sometime in April."

Ortiz has not been shy about discussing his contract situation publicly, and the team has likewise consistently indicated a willingness to talk. Speier breaks things down from a baseball perspective, arguing that Ortiz has in fact expressed a willingness to give his team a legitimate discount. The notion of adding another year to his current contract at about the same annual rate ($15MM) is valuable, says Speier, because it keeps him off of an open market that could well pay him more. Though he is aging, Ortiz's bat has shown little sign of slowing, and he would surely draw real interest from a power-sapped free agent market. Even if the slugger takes a step back, says Speier, Boston's payroll situation makes the downside scenario a reasonable risk to bear.

As for those payroll considerations, Red Sox principal owner John Henry said yesterday that the luxury tax may not be a firm line for the club going forward, as Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports. Though the club has "learned from" its experiences with major deals in the past, Henry said that the team is always looking for ways to leverage its "big-revenue" capabilities. Though he was somewhat unclear as to his reasoning, Henry said that "there's some reason to believe that [staying under the luxury threshold] may not be as important as we thought a couple years ago."

Yankees outfielder Alfonso Soriano is considering retiring after the season, reports George A. King III of the New York Post. The 38-year-old said it will all come down to whether he feels healthy, but acknowledged the possibility that he could join teammate Derek Jeter in making this his last go-round. Soriano, who produced a .255/.302/.489 line with 34 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 626 plate appearances last year, will be playing out the final year of the eight-year, $136MM deal he signed with the Cubs back in November of 2006.

Ortiz is a great hitter and love to watch him play but Boston really should include a clause in his next contract that fines him every time he publicly demands an extension or threatens to go to another team if he doesn’t get one.

Let Ortiz walk.
David can ask for a long-term deal and Ortiz will find out what his market is.
The RedSox will slap a qualifying offer on David and find out if Ortiz’s home-town-loyalty results in an acceptance of some one-year deal for over $14M.
My guess.
David Ortiz will sign with the Yankees for one dollar more.

So put the QO on him and see what the Yankees or any other team does for a 40 year old. He may be worth $14 M–no way the Yankees pay him more. I hope they give up their #1 pick and pay him $1 more. Buyer Beware.

Manny’s legs concern me, spindly. I know he’s young and will fill out like Miggy (well hopefully not THAT much), but still it’s his 2nd major leg injury already. When you’re Hudson and you step on the edge of the bag, ok he’s old. When you’re Manny, hmmm ….

Well, that’s the reason he decided to have the surgery rather than the initial thought that he let it heal on its own. Looks like they’re being extremely careful with him regarding his return as well, so I think chances are good that he’ll be OK.

I don’t know how I feel about Soriano retiring. He’s always been a favorite of mine, from his early NY days. 406 HR is a ton; he’s had one heck of a career from a power/speed combo perspective. I kinda hope Ortiz falls off a cliff soon so I don’t have to hear about contract negotiations between Ortiz and Boston ever again..

In 2008, Mike Mussina retired at age 39 with 270 career wins. He retired saying that if he played one more year, he would owe it to himself to play 2 more since he would be so close to 300, and it is better to get out of the game now rather than spend 3 more years. Soriano might feel the same way. Maybe it is just better to retire now rather than play until he is 41. Still, it might be agonizing for him to spend the rest of his life wondering if he could have hit 500 homers.

If I was manager I wouldn’t even have Beltran as the regular RF this year. I figure Soriano is gone after this year, where Beltran has 3 years with terrible knees. Bite it a bit on defense this year, to keep Beltran healthier next 3 years.

You do know Type A free agents used to net teams 2 draft picks, right?

Lowell retired a Red Sox player. But they had tried to trade him. Pedroia signed a team friendly deal. I doubt he will retire as a Red Sox player. Schilling played the last few years of his career there. He was a hired gun. Beckett is in LA

Well, no one wants Machado to have a set back!
That would be bad for business!
If he can go opening day tremendous. If he can’t, I am sure the O’s can figure out something till he comes back. It’s just important to just take your time!

Jimenez has a nice way about him, I am excited for once! I can’t tell you what he does for the Oriole rotation!